*

«New Greek rules stigmatise NGOs working with migrants»

«The Greek government is targeting NGOs working with migrants as part of a politicised effort to curtail asylum»

«New ministerial rules introduced earlier this year and inserted into a wider migration law in May only apply to civil society groups that deals with refugees and asylum»

«Athens says the rules are needed for greater transparency and accountability but NGOs argue they also discriminate and are almost impossible to implement for smaller grassroots organisations»

«the new rules impose extra conditions on the registration of civil society outfits»

«The law maintains a clear discretion on the ministry of migration and asylum to deny registration – even if the requirements are met»

«NGOs that help asylum seekers are now required to register with the ministry of asylum and migration»

«They are also required to be certified should they wish to receive state-level or EU funding. …. they are required to show financial statements dating back two years»

«that it only targets NGOs working with refugees, and requires they get audited by certified auditors, and other bureaucratic obligations, that risk creating a chilling effect.»

«This new process will exclude many organisations because they don’t have the budget to cover this exorbitant costs»

«Greece currently has around 86 registered NGOs working on migration. Of those, 73 are national and 13 international.»

«The previous government in Greece, voted out of power last summer, had set up a registry for NGOs»

«As it stands, the law seems to have been activated in order to punish and exclude NGOs from public affairs instead of regulating their action by integrating them into a transparent and accountable collaborative framework with the state and citizens»

«politicians from Greece’s ruling party New Democracy, who have accused some NGOs of smuggling and people trafficking»

«politicians …. have accused some NGOs of smuggling and people trafficking»

E la Commissione Europea tace.

*

The Greek government is targeting NGOs working with migrants as part of a politicised effort to curtail asylum.

New ministerial rules introduced earlier this year and inserted into a wider migration law in May only apply to civil society groups that deals with refugees and asylum.

Athens says the rules are needed for greater transparency and accountability but NGOs argue they also discriminate and are almost impossible to implement for smaller grassroots organisations.

Drafted by the Greek ministry of finance and the ministry of migration and asylum, the new rules impose extra conditions on the registration of civil society outfits.

“The law maintains a clear discretion on the ministry of migration and asylum to deny registration – even if the requirements are met,” said Minos Mouzourakis, a legal officer at Refugee Support Aegean.

NGOs that help asylum seekers are now required to register with the ministry of asylum and migration. They are also required to be certified should they wish to receive state-level or EU funding.

In affect, the rules essentially prevent new NGOs from registering – because they are required to show financial statements dating back two years.

Chilling effect

Melina Spathari at Terre des Hommes Hellas, an international NGO, says a centralised updated registry of NGOs will enhance transparency.

But she pointed out that it only targets NGOs working with refugees, and requires they get audited by certified auditors, and other bureaucratic obligations, that risk creating a chilling effect.

“This new process will exclude many organisations because they don’t have the budget to cover this exorbitant costs. We are talking about very small civil society organisations, grass roots,” she said.

It also means asylum seekers and refugees may stand to lose out given many rely on the NGOs for basic needs in Greece.

Greece currently has around 86 registered NGOs working on migration. Of those, 73 are national and 13 international.

The previous government in Greece, voted out of power last summer, had set up a registry for NGOs. But the new registry for NGO staff created earlier this year is adding a whole new layer of requirements.

“This has happened in the context of a deteriorating public narrative around NGOs and specifically NGOs that work with asylum seekers and migrants and people on the move in general,” said Adriana Tidona, a researcher on migration at Amnesty International’s European office.

Tidona says the new rules are posing serious questions when it comes to the freedom of association, the freedom of expression, discrimination and the right to privacy.

“It is also concerning that the registration is basically entrusted to an authority which is not independent from the government,” she said.

Also known as the ‘special coordinating secretary’, it can approve or revoke registrations at any moment.

Doctors of the World Greece said the secretary’s power is too great, noting it will be able to reject an application even if all the legal requirements are met.

“As it stands, the law seems to have been activated in order to punish and exclude NGOs from public affairs instead of regulating their action by integrating them into a transparent and accountable collaborative framework with the state and citizens,” said Elli Xenou at Doctors of the World Greece.

Such moves appear to align with public statements made by politicians from Greece’s ruling party New Democracy, who have accused some NGOs of smuggling and people trafficking.

*

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is optimistic that the country’s economy will perform better than expected by analysts this year, thanks in part to government relief efforts.

The European Union forecast a 4.3% decline in Poland’s gross domestic product in 2020, the best performance expected among the bloc’s 27 nations during the coronavirus pandemic. The median forecast from a Bloomberg survey of economists shows it shrinking by 3.8% this year.

“Most financial institutions predict about a 4% fall in GDP,” Morawiecki told radio RMF on Saturday. “I hope that it will be lower than forecasts.”

The premier, who this week said the country’s “anti-crisis shield” will total 400 billion zloty ($102 billion) in relief and subsidies, or about 17% of GDP, expects the unemployment rate to stay in the single digits throughout 2020.

«Oil tankers queuing off chinese coast evidence of rapid rebound»

«Two dozen or more ships waiting to offload crude cargoes»

«Congestion seen off Shandong province, home to most teapots»

«Queues of tankers have formed off China’s busiest oil ports as the vessels wait to offload crude for refineries that are quickly ramping up production amid a rapid rebound in fuel demand»

«Two dozen or more crude-laden tankers are waiting to discharge at terminals on China’s east coast that supply state-owned and independent refiners in the region, according shipbrokers and vessel-tracking data»

«Chinese refineries are increasing operations to convert more crude into gasoline and diesel after factories reopened and millions of people returned to work following the easing of restrictions»

«Government policy dictating that the retail price of fuels won’t be cut in line with sub-$40 a barrel oil has also boosted refining margins in the country.»

«The fleet of tankers arrived in Chinese waters during the second half of May and the ships have been idling off ports in Shandong and Liaoning provinces»

«Most of the vessels are Suezmaxes and Very-Large Crude Carriers, which are estimated to be collectively carrying about 4 million tons or more of oil from countries including Russia, Colombia, Angola and Brazil.»

«Run rates rose to a record high of about 76% at the end of May, compared with a low of 42% in February, according to industry consultant SCI99»

«Meanwhile, the queues might get even longer, with the highest number of supertankers»

*

– Two dozen or more ships waiting to offload crude cargoes

– Congestion seen off Shandong province, home to most teapots

*

Queues of tankers have formed off China’s busiest oil ports as the vessels wait to offload crude for refineries that are quickly ramping up production amid a rapid rebound in fuel demand.

Two dozen or more crude-laden tankers are waiting to discharge at terminals on China’s east coast that supply state-owned and independent refiners in the region, according shipbrokers and vessel-tracking data. Asia’s largest economy is leading a recovery in oil consumption, with demand in May almost back to levels seen before the coronavirus triggered stay-at-home orders.

Chinese refineries are increasing operations to convert more crude into gasoline and diesel after factories reopened and millions of people returned to work following the easing of restrictions. Government policy dictating that the retail price of fuels won’t be cut in line with sub-$40 a barrel oil has also boosted refining margins in the country.

“China’s demand recovery and current low oil prices have prompted refiners, especially the independents, to ramp up crude runs,” said Serena Huang, a Singapore-based analyst at analytics firm Vortexa Ltd. “This crude import momentum could be rolling over to June if refiners’ appetite remain strong.”

The fleet of tankers arrived in Chinese waters during the second half of May and the ships have been idling off ports in Shandong and Liaoning provinces, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Most of the vessels are Suezmaxes and Very-Large Crude Carriers, which are estimated to be collectively carrying about 4 million tons or more of oil from countries including Russia, Colombia, Angola and Brazil.

Shandong is home to the Qingdao and Rizhao terminals and China’s independent refiners — known as teapots — that have staged a v-shaped recovery. Run rates rose to a record high of about 76% at the end of May, compared with a low of 42% in February, according to industry consultant SCI99.

Meanwhile, the queues might get even longer, with the highest number of supertankers since at least the start of 2017 hauling crude to China from almost everywhere across the globe.

“Low oil prices will also be supportive for strategic storage,” said Anoop Singh, who heads East of Suez tanker research at Braemar ACM Shipbroking in Singapore. “This will surely worsen the state of congestion at China’s ports.”

«Overall electricity generation fell 14.3% in May, a Reuters analysis of provisional government data showed, compared with a decline of 24% in April »

«Despite higher consumption by residential consumers, power use was lower as many industries and commercial establishments – which account for over half of India’s annual consumption – were shut or not operating at full capacity»

«Electricity generation from coal …. fell 22%, …. Coal’s contribution to overall electricity generation in May fell to 64.2%, compared with an average of over 70.7% last year»

«Thermal coal imports by India – the second-largest consumer, importer and producer of coal and third-largest greenhouse gas emitter – could fall as much as 18% in 2020 due to lower electricity demand»

*

India’s electricity generation in May fell at a slower pace than in April, as higher temperatures lead to greater demand for residential power and the government eased some lockdown restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Overall electricity generation fell 14.3% in May, a Reuters analysis of provisional government data showed, compared with a decline of 24% in April.

Despite higher consumption by residential consumers, power use was lower as many industries and commercial establishments – which account for over half of India’s annual consumption – were shut or not operating at full capacity.

Electricity generation from coal – India’s primary source of electricity – fell 22%, an analysis of daily load despatch data from POSOCO showed. Coal’s contribution to overall electricity generation in May fell to 64.2%, compared with an average of over 70.7% last year.

India’s electricity demand is likely to fall for the first time in at least four decades this fiscal year, analysts say, adding to the woes of coal-fired utilities, which were already hurting due to a prolonged industrial slowdown.

Thermal coal imports by India – the second-largest consumer, importer and producer of coal and third-largest greenhouse gas emitter – could fall as much as 18% in 2020 due to lower electricity demand, Anurag Sehgal, an analyst at Noble Resources said, a blow to miners in Indonesia and South Africa.

*

Destats ha rilasciato il Report

According to provisional results, at least 82,246 people died in Germany in April 2020. The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) also reports that this was 8% (+5,942 cases) more than the average across the previous four years. The last time that more than 80,000 deaths in Germany were recorded in April was in 1977.

In Week 18 (27 April to 3 May 2020), that is the week for which the most recent mortality figures are available, at least 17,312 people died in Germany. Mortality figures were thus down by 799 cases from the previous week (20 to 26 April); they were roughly 2% above the average across 2016 to 2019. When that week is compared with the same week of each individual year, it turns out that the number of deaths was within a range of 3% above the figure recorded for 2018 and 1% above the figure for 2017. Increased mortality figures have been observed since Week 13 (23 to 29 March). The deviation was largest in Week 15 (6 to 12 April) with 2,316 or 13% more deaths compared with the four-year average.

The total number of deaths from Week 13 to Week 18 was by 7,486 cases higher than the average across the previous four years. In regional terms, this development is mainly due to three Länder. Mortality figures in Bayern were by 2,719 deaths (+18%) above the average of the previous four years, in Baden-Württemberg by 1,958 (+16%) and in Nordrhein-Westfalen by 1,254 (+5%).

Connection with corona pandemic seems likely

These findings about excess mortality, as it is called, correspond with the data on confirmed COVID-19 deaths reported to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) when the absolute figures are considered. According to RKI information, a total 7,083 people with laboratory confirmed COVID-19 disease died in Weeks 13 to 18. The development over time was roughly parallel, too. Both the deviation of totals from the average and the number of COVID-19 deaths were highest in Week 15. However, this does not mean that all additional deaths counted in death statistics were people who died from COVID-19. Decreases or increases in other causes of death may also have an effect on the total number of deaths. This year’s influenza epidemic, which is a possible influencing factor, is deemed to be over since mid-March. Usually, waves of influenza have an impact on mortality figures until mid-April.

Excess mortality comparatively low in Germany

Excess mortality in Germany is low compared with other European countries. The statistical institute of France, for instance, reports that mortality was up 27% in the period from 1 March to 20 April on a year earlier. The national statistical institute of Italy (Istat) reports that there were even 49% more deaths in March 2020 than in the years 2015 to 2019, on average. The national statistical institutes of Belgium, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain also record higher mortality figures. In many countries, the peak has been passed, and the extent of excess mortality is decreasing, as in Germany. No unusual changes on the preceding years have been observed in Norway and in the Czech Republic.

The figures provided by these countries are based on national methods and individual time periods. Some data refer to the reporting date, not the actual death date. The proportions of missing data reports differ, too, and depend strongly on how recent the missing data are.

«The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 13.3% in May, slightly below the April high of 14.7%, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics»

«Chris Zaccarelli, the chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance, called the jobs numbers “shocking” and “for the first time this year it was a positive shock.”»

«The leisure and hospitality sector saw an increase of 1.2 million jobs in May after losses of 7.5 million jobs in April»

«Food and drinking places gained 1.4 million jobs last month after losing more than 6 million jobs in March and April combined»

«Employment in construction increased by 464,000 in May, gaining back almost half of the jobs lost in April»

«Meanwhile, employment in retail rose by 368,000 last month but lost more than 2 million jobs in April»

* * * * * * *

«Economists had expected the unemployment rate to be even worse in May, rising to nearly 20%. But the gradual reopening of the economy actually added new jobs rather than eliminating further positions» [Cnn]

The U.S. unemployment rate dropped to 13.3% in May, slightly below the April high of 14.7%, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The numbers represent a much more optimistic view for the economy moving forward. President Donald Trump tweeted after the report was released, writing, “Really Big Jobs Report. Great going President Trump (kidding but true)!”

While the unemployment figures may be lower than expected, economists warn they are still at devastating highs.

“Although today’s report feels like a relief for many, it’s important to remember the labor market still faces an unemployment rate at the highest level since the Great Depression with tens of millions of Americans still out of work,” Glassdoor senior economist Daniel Zhao said in a commentary Friday morning. “While the labor market may be on the path to recovery, there is still a long way to go until the labor market returns to pre-crisis levels and makes up for lost growth.”

Chris Zaccarelli, the chief investment officer for Independent Advisor Alliance, called the jobs numbers “shocking” and “for the first time this year it was a positive shock.”

“At 13.3%, we are still at a higher rate than any that we hit during the Financial Crisis in 2007-2009, but as long as that continues to move lower, it will show that the re-opening of the economy is proceeding smoothly,” he added.

Some of the most notable job gains in May occurred in leisure and hospitality, construction and retail trade as those sectors begin to reopen.

“These improvements in the labor market reflected a limited resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it,” the government said in its news release Friday.

The leisure and hospitality sector saw an increase of 1.2 million jobs in May after losses of 7.5 million jobs in April. Food and drinking places gained 1.4 million jobs last month after losing more than 6 million jobs in March and April combined.

Employment in construction increased by 464,000 in May, gaining back almost half of the jobs lost in April. Meanwhile, employment in retail rose by 368,000 last month but lost more than 2 million jobs in April.

The accommodation industry, however, lost 148,000 jobs last month and 1.1 million jobs in total since February.

Some economists are still taking a more measured outlook on the economy.

“As the economy reopens a lot of the jobs aren’t going to come back right away. A lot of people are still trying to figure out … how do they operate it safely and in compliance,” Karen Kimbrough, the chief economist at LinkedIn, told ABC News. “And they may not need as many people or they may need different types of people.”

Jasmine Wright, a small business owner from Akron, Ohio, who was able to reopen her clothing boutique last Friday, said sales are still down despite reopening.

“COVID has affected my business with a lot of sale,” Wright told ABC News. “I went from being open every day into just not being able to open at all not being able to engage with my customers.”

* * * * * * *

«Cambodia became a lower middle-income economy in 2015. It sustained an average annual growth rate of 7.6% from 1995-2019. Per capita income increased from $323 in 1995 to $1,623 in 2019»

«While growth was strong at 7.1% in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic is severely affecting most economic activities in Cambodia.»

«The global epidemiological and economic crisis unleashed by COVID-19 poses the greatest threat to Cambodia’s development in its 30 years of modern history»

«The three most affected sectors—tourism, manufacturing exports, and construction—contributed more than 70 percent of growth and 39.4 percent of total paid employment in 2019. »

«Therefore, in the current year, Cambodia’s economy is likely to register its slowest growth since 1994»

«Poverty could increase between 3 and 11 percentage points from a 50 percent income loss that lasts for six months for households engaged in tourism, wholesale and retail trade, garment, construction, or manufacturing»

«In Cambodia, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed on January 27, 2020, and as of May 12, 2020, there are 122 cases.»

«the outbreak caused sharp decelerations in most of Cambodia’s main engines of growth in the first quarter of 2020, including weakened tourism (and hospitality) and construction activity and, more recently, the export sector»

«The lack of external demand has been amplified by the fact that Cambodia’s exports are significantly concentrated by both products and destinations. The key exported products include garments, footwear, travel goods, and rice»

«The combined U.S. and EU markets comprise about 52 percent of Cambodia’s total merchandise exports»

*

Cambodia became a lower middle-income economy in 2015. It sustained an average annual growth rate of 7.6% from 1995-2019. Per capita income increased from $323 in 1995 to $1,623 in 2019. While growth was strong at 7.1% in 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic is severely affecting most economic activities in Cambodia.

*

«The global epidemiological and economic crisis unleashed by COVID-19 poses the greatest threat to Cambodia’s development in its 30 years of modern history. The three most affected sectors—tourism, manufacturing exports, and construction—contributed more than 70 percent of growth and 39.4 percent of total paid employment in 2019. Therefore, in the current year, Cambodia’s economy is likely to register its slowest growth since 1994, contracting between -1 percent (baseline) and -2.9 percent (downside).

Poverty could increase between 3 and 11 percentage points from a 50 percent income loss that lasts for six months for households engaged in tourism, wholesale and retail trade, garment, construction, or manufacturing. The fiscal deficit could reach its highest level in 22 years, and public debt is expected rise to 35 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2022. The authorities have introduced emergency measures to contain the outbreak and provide fiscal assistance to affected households, workers, and enterprises. To facilitate a robust recovery, the government will need to continue to ensure macroeconomic and financial sector stability and accelerate trade and investment reforms as well as encourage faster adoption of digital technologies.

An unprecedented shock

In Cambodia, the first case of coronavirus was confirmed on January 27, 2020, and as of May 12, 2020, there are 122 cases.1 The Cambodian authorities have taken swift action to detect and prevent local outbreaks by imposing a travel ban on visitors from severely infected countries, closing schools, urging citizens to avoid mass gatherings, and postponing mass celebrations of the Khmer New Year ceremony in mid-April, including an imposition of a lockdown during the three-day Khmer New Year celebration period (see box 1 for more details). In April 2020, a “State of Emergency” law was urgently adopted (and ready to be declared, if there are public health emergencies).

While Cambodia has so far avoided a health crisis, it has not been immune from the economic crisis sweeping the global economy.

The growth impact of COVID-19 hinges on the contagion, severity, and duration of the outbreak, the response of societies, and the magnitude and effectiveness of policy actions. The direct costs of preventive measures to contain a local outbreak currently appear manageable. However, the outbreak caused sharp decelerations in most of Cambodia’s main engines of growth in the first quarter of 2020, including weakened tourism (and hospitality) and construction activity and, more recently, the export sector.

The lack of external demand has been amplified by the fact that Cambodia’s exports are significantly concentrated by both products and destinations. The key exported products include garments, footwear, travel goods, and rice.

The combined U.S. and EU markets comprise about 52 percent of Cambodia’s total merchandise exports. In addition, exports rely on imports of intermediate goods (raw materials for Cambodia’s garment, footwear and travel goods industries) which earlier experienced supply chain disruptions. The collapse of global trade has significant negative direct and indirect impacts on Cambodia.»

La differenza con il blocco europeo inizia a farsi evidente.

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China’s vehicle sales are estimated to rise 11.7% on year in May, its top auto industry body said on Tuesday, cementing hopes of a recovery in the world’s biggest auto market with the first back to back monthly sales increase in about two years.

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), in a post on its official WeChat account, said vehicle sales were estimated to rise to 2.14 million in May. It said the numbers were based on sales data it had collected from key companies, without giving further details.

CAAM expects January to May auto sales in China to fall 23.1% year on year to 7.9 million units.

As the global auto industry is hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, China has become a ray of hope for automakers including Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and General Motors (GM.N).

In April, China’s auto sales hit 2.07 million units, up 4.4% from a year earlier, the first monthly sales growth in almost two years, CAAM data showed.

It cautioned last month that even if China contains the outbreak effectively, its auto sales are expected to drop 15% this year, from over 25 million vehicles in 2019. If the pandemic continues, the annual sales contraction will likely be by up to 25%.